Costa Rica vs Germany LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Germany win but go out
Germany must defeat Costa Rica or else they will be eliminated from the World Cup
Four-time champions Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in their last Group E match on Thursday, tumbling out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive time. Germany finished third in the standings, behind Spain on goal difference, with Japan top following their 2-1 win over the Spaniards.
The result left Japan facing Croatia in the last 16 while Spain will take on Morocco. On a night of unrelenting drama in the desert near Doha, the Germans struck first with Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute but saw the Central Americans score twice with Yeltsin Tejeda and a Manuel Neuer own goal before a Kai Havertz brace put them back in front. Fellow substitute Niclas Fuellkrug added a fourth in stoppage time but it could do nothing to prevent their elimination as Spain advanced with a superior goal difference. It was the first time in their illustrious World Cup history that Germany had failed to win any of their first two group matches and despite bagging a win on their last attempt, they will be departing Qatar with dropped heads.
“In the first half I was disappointed and very angry at my team and how we allowed the opponent to come back,” Germany coach Hansi Flick said. “We wanted to score three or four goals in the first half but then we made mistakes. If we had converted those chances, 16 of them. But the tournament was not decided today for us. We did not have any efficiency at this tournament and that is why we were eliminated.”
They were teetering on the brink of elimination going into the game after losing their opening group match to Japan and then snatching a 1-1 draw against Spain. Needing only victory to avoid a repeat of their shock 2018 World Cup first round exit, Germany, with seven Bayern Munich players in their line-up, charged forward from the start in search of an early goal to settle their nerves. Jamal Musiala cut from left into the box and tested keeper Keylor Navas with a low drive in the second minute. It was one-way traffic initially and unmarked Thomas Mueller should have done much better when he was picked out by Joshua Kimmich but could not keep his header on target. Gnabry, however, scored with his glancing header in the 10th minute to put the four-time champions in front. Costa Rica, who required at least a point to have a chance to progress, rarely crossed into the German half, with only about 25% possession in the first 45 minutes. Germany were eager to make amends for their bad tournament start with teenager Musiala repeatedly taking on the entire Costa Rican defence. The chances kept coming but the Germans, as in the game against Japan, struggled to convert them. They were almost punished when Keysher Fuller benefitted from a double defensive blunder but his shot was tipped over the bar by Neuer, whose 19th appearance at the tournament was a World Cup record for goalkeepers.
With the group standings flashing up on the big screen of the Al Bayt stadium, Germany grew nervous with Musiala twice hitting the post early in the second half. Neuer, however, could do nothing 13 minutes after the restart when Tejeda thundered the ball past him on the rebound after he had first saved a Kendall Waston header. Juan Pablo Vargas then appeared to have bundled the ball over the line in the 70th minute to put Costa Rica in front but the effort was later credited as a Neuer own goal. Substitute Havertz scored twice in 12 minutes and Fuellkrug added another in stoppage time but ultimately it was too little too late with Spain advancing with a superior goal difference.
Relive all the action from out live blog below:
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
18 mins: Joel Campbell thinks he’s won a corner for Costa Rica after taking on Niklas Sule and seeing the ball go behind but the forward was offside as the ball came up to him so Germany are awarded a free kick.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
15 mins: Chance! Leon Goretzka darts through the Costa Rican defence as the ball is chipped into the box from the right side of the pitch.
The German midfielder is wide open and nods the ball towards goal only to be denied by a good save from Keylor Navas!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
13 mins: In the other fixture of the night in Group E, Alvaro Morata has sent Spain in front against Japan. That means both European side will be heading into the knockout rounds.
GOAL! Costa Rica 0-1 Germany (Gnabry, 10’)⚽️
10 mins: Just what Hansi Flick ordered!
This time Germany sweep down the left wing with David Raum getting forward from his position at left-back. He hangs a perfect cross into the box where Serge Gnabry has positioned himself in space.
There’s work still to do for the forward but he works his header over to the far side of the goal leaving the goalkeeper no chance to reach it.
Germany take the lead.
Costa Rica 0-0 Germany
9 mins: Chance! Joshua Kimmich swings a cross into the box from the right wing and picks out Thomas Muller. He throws himself at the ball and heads his effort wide of the near post!
Costa Rica 0-0 Germany
8 mins: Jamal Musiala gives Costa Rica a look at why he’s so dangerous by going on a twisting run into the box and dancing past three of four defenders.
He tries to lay the ball off instead of shooting though and gifts the Costa Ricans the chance to boot the ball clear.
Costa Rica 0-0 Germany
5 mins: Serge Gnabry makes a nice run into the left side of the box and has a prodded effort stopped at the near post by the goalkeeper but the flag goes up for offside anyway.
It’s hard to see anything other than a Germany win with the way they’ve started this game.
Costa Rica 0-0 Germany
2 mins: Save! Germany are on top immediately. They work the ball down the left wing before sending it inside to Jamal Musiala. He cuts onto his right foot and runs into the space on the edge of the box before smoking a shot towards goal.
Keylor Navas sees it early and drops to his left before punching it behind for a corner.
Kick off: Costa Rica 0-0 Germany
Germany kick off the match and work the ball over to Joshua Kimmich on the right side of the defence. He sends the ball into midfield where Ilkay Gundogan tries and fails to properly bring it under control.
Costa Rica vs Germany
The players make their way out onto the pitch.
Tonight’s match breaks new ground in that it is the first World Cup game in men’s professional football to be refereed by a team of women.
The national anthems are played. Costa Rica need a win, Germany need a win. Let’s see who comes out on top.
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